By Stephen Cooke – Entertainment Reporter
One of the perils of writing about upcoming events is the gap between this column’s deadline and press time a few days later. There’s always the issue of shows selling out in that space in time, so consider this installment a “heads-up” about some upcoming happenings a little further down the road.
One venue where a quick sell-out is always a concern is Pictou’s deCoste Performing Arts Centre, where the lineup is always an embarrassment of riches, and fans will drive the extra mile(s) to catch a favourite artist in the newly renovated facility.
Last week, the deCoste announced its July lineup, and as you might expect, some of the best talent in the province will be crossing its stage with a varied range of performances.
The month kicks off on July 1, appropriately with a special tribute titled Elbows Up – Canada Rocks Concert 2025, with a top assembly of Pictou County players singing a love letter to this country’s legacy of great music, from Neil Young and the Guess Who to the Tragically Hip and Shania Twain.
If there’s a massive Canuck hit, you’ll always remember, it’s probably on the setlist, with Summer of ’69, Try and Takin’ Care of Business already touted in the show announcement. If you’re feeling even the slightest bit patriotic these days – and who isn’t, really? – this is the earworm-packed show for you.
Two days later, on Thursday, July 3, the deCoste goes for hometown pride, presenting the unique show Saltwater in Your Socks. Veteran singer-songwriter John “Spyder” Macdonald performs in character as Skipper Kevin Corkum, sharing familiar folk ballads and rollicking sea shanties as well as gripping tales of toil and terror on the high seas.
Macdonald knows this kind of material like the back of his guitar-strumming hand, and with a script by the pro team of Al Macdonald and Paul LeDoux (Sam Slick: The Clockmaker), you know you’ve got a quality piece of Nova Scotian musical theatre.
The slate of July concerts at the deCoste Centre features artists of the “needs no further introduction” variety, like the Cape Breton tag team of Heather Rankin & Jenn Sheppard on July 8, Sydney Mines’ Barra MacNeils on July 12, blues master Garrett Mason on July 17 and a special event with P.E.I.’s Tara MacLean, Song of the Sparrow, a concert and book reading on July 29.
The same could be said for a special show on July 10, with four great performers singing intimate songs in the natural glow of firelight at Songs of the Candle.
Candlelit concerts aren’t exactly a new idea, just ask anyone who saw live music before Edison invented the incandescent light bulb, but it’s a fresh idea at the deCoste Centre, where Nova Scotia favourites J.P. Cormier, Kim Dunn, Dave Gunning and Terra Spencer will enhance their acoustic vibe with the warm flicker of wick and wax.
Other special July events at the deCoste include a Fiddles & Feet’s Summer Ceilidh on July 15, and a pair of Road to Stanfest concerts with young talent en route to the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso: Ireland trad fusion quartet Tulua on July 22 and a double feature of Canadian folk trio the Pairs and Albertan duo the North Sound, hailing from Treaty 7 Territory on July 23.
And while we’re still on the topic of the deCoste Centre, there’s also this month’s events, like the Ashlei Ballet School’s 2025 Spring Recital on Sunday, June 15 (at 2 and 6:30 p.m.), and a couple of tribute concerts with Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Tuesday, June 17 and The Freddie & Queen Experience on Friday, June 20.
OK, you’ve been duly warned, don’t let these shows sell out before you get your seats!
***
And while there is still some space, how about an early heads-up for Cape Breton’s KitchenFest!, back for its 12th year of jigs, reels, songs and stories from June 27 to July 5?
The artist roster and schedule is now online at kitchenfest.ca and it’s jam-packed with daytime events, afternoon matinees, evening concerts and lively pub nights, from Port Hawkesbury to Cheticamp, and even along the Cabot Trail.
It would take an entire column to run through the list of featured artists, so let’s just say that if you can think of a musician who ever played the fiddle, or alongside one, they’re probably on the bill (and we can talk about it more in a couple of weeks).
Let’s just say that if you print off the KitchenFest! 2025 schedule and throw some darts at it, you’re bound to find yourself a good time (throwing darts at your computer screen is not recommended, and could void the warranty).